Tool Assembly for a Crafting Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A tool assembly includes a housing, a shaft, a spherical member, and a head. The housing defines a shaft channel. The shaft is rotatably disposed within the shaft channel and includes an exposed portion outside of the shaft channel. The exposed portion defines an engagement channel extending through an outer surface of the exposed portion. The spherical member is disposed within the engagement channel. The head is configured to be engaged with the exposed portion of the shaft. The head includes a detent configured to selectively engage the spherical member.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to crafting apparatus assemblies, systems,devices, kits, mechanisms, and methodologies for utilizing the same.

BACKGROUND

Crafting apparatuses are known. While existing crafting apparatusesperform adequately for their intended purpose, improvements to craftingapparatuses are continuously being sought in order to advance the arts.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the disclosure provides a tool assembly for a craftingapparatus. The tool assembly includes a housing, a shaft, a sphericalmember, and a head. The housing defines a shaft channel. The shaft isrotatably disposed within the shaft channel and includes an exposedportion outside of the shaft channel. The exposed portion defines anengagement channel extending through an outer surface of the exposedportion. The spherical member is disposed within the engagement channel.The head is configured to be engaged with the exposed portion of theshaft. The head includes a detent configured to selectively engage thespherical member.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of thefollowing optional features. In some implementations, the tool assemblyincludes a plunger slidably disposed within a plunger channel defined bythe shaft. The plunger may be engaged with the spherical member and theplunger channel may be connected to the engagement channel.

In some examples, the plunger includes a first portion having a firstdiameter and a second portion having a second diameter less than thefirst diameter, the first portion and the second portion beingconfigured to selectively engage the spherical member. The first portionof the plunger may be engaged with the spherical member. A portion ofthe spherical member may extend past the outer surface of the exposedportion of the shaft. The second portion of the plunger may be engagedwith the spherical member. The spherical member may be disposed withinthe outer surface of the exposed portion of the shaft.

In other examples, the plunger may be operable between a locked positionwhere a portion of the spherical member extends past the outer surfaceof the exposed portion of the shaft and an unlocked position where thespherical member is disposed within the outer surface of the exposedportion of the shaft.

In some instances, the tool assembly includes a spring exerting abiasing force upon the plunger to bias the plunger to the lockedposition. The plunger may be moved from the locked position to theunlocked position in response to a force sufficient to overcome thebiasing force of the spring.

In some configurations, the tool assembly includes a gear configured todrive rotation of the shaft relative to the housing. The tool assemblymay include a damping member disposed around the shaft. The dampingmember may be configured to impede rotation of the shaft.

In some implementations, the detent includes two engagement surfacesextending from each other at an angle, and when the detent engages thespherical member, the spherical member simultaneously contacts the twoengagement surfaces. When the detent engages the spherical member, thespherical member may contact the head at only the two engagementsurfaces. The spherical member may exert a force upon the two engagementsurfaces in a radially outward direction, such that the spherical memberis wedged between the two engagement surfaces.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a device for a craftingapparatus including a main body extending from a first end to a secondend, means for engaging a drive mechanism at the first end of the mainbody, and means for manipulating a sheet-like medium at the second endof the main body.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of thefollowing optional features. In some implementations, the main bodyincludes an inner surface defining a recess, the inner surfaceconfigured to engage the drive mechanism. The inner surface may define adetent configured to engage a protruding portion of the drive mechanism.The inner surface may be configured to engage the drive mechanism via akeyed connection.

In some examples, the means for manipulating the medium are integrallyformed with the main body.

In other examples, the means for manipulating the medium are selectivelyengageable with the main body.

In some instances, the means for manipulating the medium are selectivelyengageable with the main body via a mechanical fastener.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a tool housing for a craftingapparatus. The tool housing includes an exposed portion and a head. Theexposed portion has a spherical member. The head is configured to beengaged with the exposed portion. The head includes a detent configuredto selectively engage the spherical member.

The details of one or more implementations of the disclosure are setforth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Otheraspects, features, and advantages will be apparent from the descriptionand drawings, and from the claims.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a crafting apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a tool assembly of the crafting apparatus of FIG. 1 inaccordance with principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tool assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of the tool assembly in a firstposition of FIG. 2, taken along line 4A-4A in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4B is a detail view of a portion of the tool assembly of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is the cross-sectional view of the tool assembly of FIG. 4A in asecond position.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the tool assembly of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7A is a side elevation view of a shaft of the tool assembly of FIG.2.

FIG. 7B is a bottom elevation view of the shaft of FIG. 7A.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the shaft of FIG. 7A, taken alongline 8-8 in FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of a plunger of the tool assembly ofFIG. 2.

FIG. 10A is a side elevation view of a head of the tool assembly of FIG.2.

FIG. 10B is a top elevation view of the head of FIG. 10A.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the head of FIG. 10A, taken alongline 11-11 in FIG. 10B.

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view of another tool assembly of thecrafting apparatus of FIG. 1 in accordance with principles of thepresent disclosure.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a crafting apparatus 10 is generally shown. Thecrafting apparatus 10 may be powered by electricity and may beconfigured to manipulate and/or influence a plurality of mediums,including, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, nylon, vinyl, wood,metal, plastic, etc. In some implementations, the mediums may besubstantially sheet-like or planar. In other implementations, themediums may have any suitable configuration. The crafting apparatus 10may influence these mediums in any suitable manner, including, but notlimited to, cutting, painting, marking, bending, creasing, scoring, etc.A user may operate and provide instructions to the crafting apparatus 10to influence the medium. In some implementations, the crafting apparatus10 is in electrical communication with a user device (not shown)configured to receive input(s) from the user and transmit the input(s)to the crafting apparatus 10 to achieve a desired result or output. Theuser device may be, for example, a computer, a smartphone, a tabletdevice, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the crafting apparatus 10 includes a toolassembly 100. The tool assembly 100 may be configured to manipulateand/or influence the plurality of mediums as set forth above. As willbecome apparent, certain components of the tool assembly 100 may beinterchangeable to modify the manner in which the medium is influenced.These interchangeable components may be disposable, reusable, or somecombination of the two. The tool assembly 100 includes a housing 102, ashaft 104, a spherical member 106, a plunger 108, a head 110, a spring112, and a gear 114. In some implementations, each of the components ofthe tool assembly 100 may be formed as discrete components, unitarycomponents, or some combination of the two. Each of the components ofthe tool assembly 100 may be formed of any suitable material, such as,for example, plastic, aluminum, steel, brass, carbon fiber, rubber, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4A, the housing 102 may be a generally cylindricalmember. The housing 102 may be fixed to the crafting apparatus 10 in anysuitable manner. The housing 102 defines a shaft channel 116 extendingthrough an entire length of the housing 102. In other implementations,the shaft channel 116 may extend through only a portion of the housing102. The shaft channel 116 may be configured to receive the shaft 104,i.e., a diameter of the shaft channel 116 may be greater than an outerdiameter of the shaft 104. The housing 102 may include a flange 118 atone end of the housing 102. The flange 118 may extend radially outwardlyfrom the housing 102 and may engage the gear 114. The housing 102 maydefine lips 120 a, 120 b configured to engage washers 122 a, 122 b,respectively. The lips 120 a, 120 b may be disposed within the shaftchannel 116 and may be defined by portions of the shaft channel 116 thathave greater diameters than the rest of the shaft channel 116.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 6-8, the shaft 104 may be a generallycylindrical member. The shaft 104 is rotatably disposed within the shaftchannel 116 of the housing 102. The shaft 104 defines a plunger channel124 extending through an entire length of the shaft 104. The plungerchannel 124 may include an upper channel 126, a lower channel 128, and alip 130 between the upper channel 126 and the lower channel 128. As canbe seen in FIG. 8, the upper channel 126 may have a diameter greaterthan a diameter of the lower channel 128. The upper channel 126 may beconfigured to receive the plunger 108 and the spring 112, and the lowerchannel 126 may be configured to receive the plunger 108. The lip 130may engage the spring 112, as described in greater detail below.

The shaft 104 includes an exposed portion 132 at one end of the shaft104. When the shaft 104 is disposed in the shaft channel 116 of thehousing 102, the exposed portion 132 is outside of the shaft channel116. The shaft 104 includes a lip 134 extending around at least aportion of the shaft 104 that extends outwardly from a center of theshaft 104. The lip 134 has a width greater than a diameter of the shaftchannel 116, such that the lip 134 abuts the housing 102 and preventsthe exposed portion 132 from entering into the shaft channel 116. Theexposed portion 132 defines an engagement channel 136 extending from theplunger channel 124 through an outer surface 138 of the exposed portion132. For example, the engagement channel 136 may be connected or influid communication with the plunger channel 124. The engagement channel136 has a width W136 where the engagement channel 136 meets the outersurface 138 of the exposed portion 132. The engagement channel 136(e.g., the surfaces defining the engagement channel 136) may tapertoward the outer surface 138. That is, the engagement channel 136 may bewider near the plunger channel 124 than near the outer surface 138. Theengagement channel 136 may extend transversely to the plunger channel124. For example, the engagement channel 136 may extend at a right anglewith respect to the plunger channel 124.

Referring to FIG. 7B, a plan view of an end of the exposed portion 132of the shaft 104 is shown. The exposed portion 132 may have an outlineresembling an oval. In some implementations, the exposed portion 132 hasan outline resembling a “D” on one side and a backwards “D” on the otherside. Accordingly, the outline of the exposed portion 132 may bereferred to as a “double-D” configuration. As shown in FIG. 7B, theoutline of the exposed portion 132 may have a length L132 and a widthW132 greater than the length L132.

The shaft 104 includes a first connection arrangement 140 on an outersurface of the shaft 104 at an end opposite the exposed portion 132. Insome implementations, the first connection arrangement 140 may be aplurality of teeth. In other implementations, the first connectionarrangement 140 may be part of a keyed connection, a fastenerconnection, etc. The gear 114 includes a second connection arrangement142 on an inner surface of the gear 114 configured to engage the firstconnection arrangement 140. In some implementations, the secondconnection arrangement 142 may be a plurality of teeth configured tomeshingly engage the first connection arrangement 140. In otherimplementations, the second connection arrangement 142 may be part of akeyed connection, a fastener connection, etc., with the first connectionarrangement 140. The gear 114 may drive rotation of the shaft 104relative to the housing 102 via the engagement of the first connectionarrangement 140 and the second connection arrangement 142.

Referring to FIGS. 2-4A, the gear 114 includes a plurality of teeth 144configured to engage teeth of a corresponding gear (not shown) of thecrafting apparatus 10. The gear of the crafting apparatus 10 may berotationally driven by a motor (not shown) which, in turn, may driverotation of the gear 114. As the gear 114 rotates, the shaft 104likewise rotates via the engagement of the first connection arrangement140 and the second connection arrangement 142.

The gear 114 defines an upper channel 146, a lower channel 148, and alip 150 between the upper channel 146 and the lower channel 148. As canbe seen in FIG. 4A, the upper channel 146 may have a diameter less thana diameter of the lower channel 148. The upper channel 146 may be sizedto receive the plunger 108 and the lower channel 148 may be sized toreceive the shaft 104, the plunger 108, and the spring 112.Consequently, the gear 114 may abut the flange 118 of the housing 102with the lower channel 148 disposed closer to the housing 102 than theupper channel 146.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 6, in some implementations, the tool assembly100 includes a shroud 152 surrounding a portion of the teeth 144 of thegear 114. The shroud 152 may be a generally U-shaped member such that anexposed portion of the teeth 144 may engage the teeth of thecorresponding gear of the crafting apparatus 10 and the remainingportion of the teeth 144 are covered by the shroud 152. The shroud 152may be configured to reduce the risk of undesired obstruction (frome.g., fingers of a user, debris, a medium) with the teeth 144.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 6, in some implementations, the tool assembly100 includes the washers 122 a, 122 b disposed around the shaft 104 inthe shaft channel 116 of the housing 102. The first washer 122 a mayengage the first lip 120 a of the housing 102, and the second washer 122b may engage the second lip 120 b of the housing 102. The washers 122 a,122 b may be secured to the housing 102, the shaft 104, or both thehousing 102 and the shaft 104. In other implementations, the washers 122a, 122 b may be frictionally engaged with the housing 102 and the shaft104, and may not be secured to either of the housing 102 or the shaft104.

With continued reference to FIGS. 4A and 6, in some implementations, thetool assembly 100 includes damping O-rings 154 a, 154 b disposed aroundthe shaft 104. The damping O-rings 154 a, 154 b may be secured to theshaft 104, or the damping O-rings 154 a, 154 b may be disposed aroundthe shaft 104 via a friction fit. The damping O-rings 154 a, 154 b maybe configured to reduce backlash caused by gaps between the firstconnection arrangement 140 and the second connection arrangement 142 orgaps between the teeth 144 of the gear 114 and the teeth of thecorresponding gear of the crafting apparatus 10. The damping O-rings 154a, 154 b may be secured to an outer surface of the shaft 104 and mayfrictionally engage the washers 122 a, 122 b such that as the shaft 104rotates, the damping O-rings 154 a, 154 b may slightly impede rotationof the shaft 104. The damping O-rings 154 a, 154 b are configured toimprove accuracy and precision of the rotation of the shaft 104.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 9, the plunger 108 is slidably disposed withinthe plunger channel 124. The plunger 108 is a generally cylindricalmember extending from a proximal end 156 to a distal end 158. Theplunger 108 includes a head portion 160, a neck portion 162, and anintermediate portion 164 extending from the head portion 160 to the neckportion 162. The head portion 160 has a head diameter D160 and the neckportion 162 has a neck diameter D162 less than the head diameter D160.As can be seen in FIG. 4A, the head diameter D160 may be equal to orslightly less than a diameter of the plunger channel 124. Theintermediate portion 164 may be angled toward a center of the plunger108 and may have a greater diameter closer to the head portion 160 thanthe neck portion 162.

The plunger 108 includes a ring 166 disposed around the plunger 108 nearthe proximal end 156. The ring 166 may be formed separately and securedto the plunger 108 or the ring 166 may be integrally formed with theplunger 108. One side of the ring 166 may engage the lip 150 of the gear114 such that the ring 166 resists a transverse motion of the plunger108 along a direction from the distal end 158 to the proximal end 156.The other side of the ring 166 may engage the spring 112.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 6, the spring 112 may be disposed around theplunger 108 within the plunger channel 124. Specifically, the spring 112may be disposed within the upper channel 126 of the plunger channel 124.The spring 112 extends from a proximal end 168 to a distal end 170. Theproximal end 168 may engage the ring 166 of the plunger 108 and thedistal end 170 may engage the lip 130 of the shaft 104 between the upperchannel 126 and the lower channel 128. The spring 112 may becompressible between the ring 166 and the lip 130. For example, the toolassembly 100 may be operable between a locked position (shown in FIG.4A) and an unlocked position (shown in FIG. 5). The spring 112 may exerta biasing force upon the ring 166 of the plunger 108 to bias the ring166 into engagement with the lip 150 of the gear 114 in the lockedposition. That is, the lip 150 of the gear 114 may resist a transversemotion of the plunger 108 along a direction from the distal end 158 tothe proximal end 156. The spring 112 may be compressed to the unlockedposition in response to an input force sufficient to overcome thebiasing force of the spring 112. The input force may be exerted on theproximal end 156 of the plunger 108 and may be caused by a user, amechanical mechanism, an electronic mechanism, an electro-mechanicalmechanism, etc. The spring 112 may be any suitable mechanism, includinga helical compression spring, a conical spring, a disc or Bellevillespring, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, the spherical member 106 is disposedwithin the engagement channel 136 of the exposed portion 132 of theshaft 104. The spherical member 106 may have a substantially sphericalshape or any other suitable shape. The spherical member 106 isconfigured to engage the plunger 108. That is, the spherical member 106is disposed adjacent the plunger 108 and is configured to selectivelyengage or abut the head portion 160, the intermediate portion 164, andthe neck portion 162. For example, the spherical member 106 may beengaged with the head portion 160 in the locked position (FIG. 4A), andthe spherical member 106 may be engaged with the neck portion 162 in theunlocked position (FIG. 5).

The spherical member 106 has a diameter D106 that is greater than thewidth W136 of the engagement channel 136 at the outer surface 138, suchthat the spherical member 106 is precluded from exiting the engagementchannel 136. However, the diameter D106 is sized such that a portion ofthe spherical member 106 may extend past the outer surface 138 of theexposed portion 132 of the shaft 104, e.g., in the locked position. Inthe unlocked position, the entirety of the spherical member 106 may bedisposed within the outer surface 138 of the exposed portion 132 of theshaft 104. In the unlocked position, a portion of the spherical member106 may be disposed in the lower channel 128 of the plunger channel 124.The spherical member 106 may be freely disposed within the engagementchannel 136. That is, the spherical member 106 may not be tethered orsecured to any component. In other implementations, the spherical member106 may be fixed to one of the housing 102, the shaft 104, the plunger108, the head 110, or some combination of these components.

In some implementations, the tool assembly 100 may be assembled withoutthe plunger 108. That is, means other than the plunger 108 mayselectively move the spherical member 106 between the locked positionand the unlocked position. For example, the spherical member 106 may bemoved via gravity, a user, mechanical mechanism, an electronicmechanism, an electro-mechanical mechanism, etc. In someimplementations, a spring (not shown) may exert a biasing force upon thespherical member 106 to bias the spherical member 106 in a radiallyoutward direction toward the locked position and any suitable mechanismmay reduce or eliminate the biasing force to move the spherical member106 toward the unlocked position or to allow the spherical member 106 tobe moved toward the unlocked position.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 10A-11, the head 110 is configured to beengaged with the exposed portion 132 of the shaft 104. The head 110 mayinclude a main body extending from a first end 111 a facing the housing102 to a second end 111 b spaced from the first end 111 a. In someimplementations, the head 110 may engage the exposed portion 132 via akeyed connection. For example, as can be seen in FIG. 10B, an innersurface 172 of the head 110 defines a recess or opening 174, the innersurface 172 and the opening 174 having a shape resembling the outline ofthe exposed portion 132, i.e., a “double-D” configuration, such that thehead 110 may engage the exposed portion 132 in only two orientations 180degrees apart from each other. The opening 174 has a length L174 and awidth W174 that are equal to or slightly greater than the length L132and width W132, respectively, of the exposed portion 132. The head 110may include a flare 176 surrounding the opening 174 to aid in locatingthe head 110 around the exposed portion 132 of the shaft 104.

Further, the double-D configurations of the inner surface 172 of thehead 110 and the outer surface 138 of the exposed portion 132 of theshaft 104 may facilitate rotation of the head 110 consistent withrotation of the shaft 104. That is, the shaft 104 may drive rotation ofthe head 110 via the keyed connection. In other implementations, thehead 110 may be engaged with the exposed portion 132 in any suitablemanner, including mechanical fasteners, magnets, electromagnets, etc.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 11, the inner surface 172 of the head 110includes at least one detent 178. In some implementations, the innersurface 172 of the head 110 includes a first detent 178 a and a seconddetent 178 b opposite the first detent 178 a. The detents 178 a, 178 bare configured to selectively engage or receive the spherical member106. For example, the detents 178 a, 178 b may engage or receive thespherical member in the locked position (FIG. 4A). The detents 178 a,178 b may include upper engagement surfaces 180 a, 180 b and lowerengagement surfaces 182 a, 182 b extending transversely from the upperengagement surfaces 180 a, 180 b. For example, the upper engagementsurface 180 a may extend from the lower engagement surface 182 a at anangle α₁, and the upper engagement surface 180 b may extend from thelower engagement surface 182 b at an angle α₂. The angles α₁, α₂ may besubstantially equal to each other or may be different from each other.The angles α₁, α₂ may be acute, right, or obtuse. That is, the anglesα₁, α₂ may be between 0 and 180 degrees.

In the locked position, the plunger 108 may urge the spherical member106 in a radially outward direction and the spherical member 106 maysimultaneously contact the first upper engagement surface 180 a and thefirst lower engagement surface 182 a of the first detent 178 a as shownin FIG. 4A. In other implementations, the head 110 may be rotated 180degrees such that in the locked position, the spherical member 106 maycontact the second upper engagement surface 180 b and the second lowerengagement surface 182 b of the second detent 178 b. In someimplementations, in the locked position, the spherical member 106 maycontact, and radially outwardly, urge against, the head 110 at only theengagement surfaces 180 a and 182 a or 180 b and 182 b. This arrangementmay give rise to a relationship between the head 110 and shaft 104 wherethere is no, or virtually no, “play” therebetween. This no “play”connection will allow for repeatable placement of the working toolagainst the medium.

The upper engagement surfaces 180 a, 180 b engaging with the sphericalmember 106 may preclude a transverse motion of the head 110 away fromthe shaft 104. The lower engagement surfaces 182 a, 182 b engaging withthe spherical member 106 may preclude a transverse motion of the head110 toward the shaft 104. Thus, the engagement of the detents 178 a, 178b with the spherical member 106 may effectively secure the head 110 tothe shaft 104 in the locked position.

The head 110 may include a slot 184 and at least one aperture 186. Theslot 184 may be configured to receive a working tool 188 and theapertures 186 may be configured to receive a fastener 190 to selectivelysecure the working tool 188 to the head 110. In other implementations,the working tool 188 may be integrally formed with the head 110. Thatis, the head 110 may be formed by a molding process, and the workingtool 188 may be formed with the head 110 via co-molding, overmolding,injection molding, etc., such that the head 110 and the working tool 188are considered to be a single component. Referring to FIG. 2, theworking tool 188 may be a scoring working tool 188 a, a cutting workingtool 188 b, or any other suitable working tool. Each working tool 188may be fixed to a corresponding head 110 (e.g., a first head 110 a and asecond head 110 b), or each working tool 188 may be interchangeablyattached to the same head 110. The relationship between the shaft 104and the head 110 may allow for multiple heads 110 and, thus, multipleworking tools 188, to be attached to the same shaft 104.

Referring to FIG. 12, in some implementations, the shaft 104 may includea first engagement channel 136 a and a second engagement channel 136 b,and the tool assembly 100 may include a first spherical member 106 a anda second spherical member 106 b. The engagement channels 136 a, 136 bmay be substantially similar to the engagement channel 136 as describedabove. The spherical members 106 a, 106 b may be substantially similarto the spherical member 106 as described above.

Referring to FIGS. 4A and 5, the spring 112 biases the plunger 108 tothe locked position. In the locked position, the spherical member 106 isengaged with the head portion 160 of the plunger 108 and wedged betweenthe head portion 160 and the detent 178, the spherical member 106protruding and extending through the engagement channel 136 at the outersurface 138 of the exposed portion 132. To either remove a head 110 fromattachment to the shaft 104 or to attach a head 110 to the shaft 104,the tool assembly 100 must be moved to the unlocked position by movingthe plunger 108.

To move the plunger 108 from the locked position to the unlockedposition, the input force exerted on the plunger 108 causes the plunger108 to slide along the plunger channel 124. As the plunger 108 slidesalong the plunger channel 124, the spherical member 106 starts byengaging the head portion 160 of the plunger 108, then engages theintermediate portion 164 of the plunger 108, and finally engages theneck portion 162 of the plunger 108 in the unlocked position. In theunlocked position, the spherical member 106 is no longer wedged betweenthe head portion 160 and the detent 178, and the spherical member 106 isfree to move toward the plunger channel 124. In some implementations,moving the head 110 away from the shaft 104 causes the upper engagementsurface 180 to exert a force upon the spherical member 106 and push thespherical member 106 toward the plunger channel 124, as can be seen inFIG. 5. In other implementations, the spherical member 106 in theunlocked position may move toward the plunger channel 124 by anysuitable means, e.g., gravity, a user, mechanical mechanism, anelectronic mechanism, an electro-mechanical mechanism, etc.

Once the spherical member 106 is entirely within the outer surface 138of the exposed portion 132 of the shaft 104, the head 110 isunobstructed and may be moved away from the shaft 104, thus removing thehead 110 from the shaft 104. Upon removal of the input force, the spring112 biases the plunger 108 to the locked position and the foregoingprocess must be repeated in order to either remove a head 110 fromattachment to the shaft 104 or to attach a head 110 to the shaft 104.

To provide for interaction with a user, one or more aspects of thedisclosure can be implemented on a computer having a display device,e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube), LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, ortouch screen for displaying information to the user and optionally akeyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by whichthe user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices canbe used to provide interaction with a user as well; for example,feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g.,visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input fromthe user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, ortactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with a user bysending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is usedby the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on auser's client device in response to requests received from the webbrowser.

A software application (i.e., a software resource) may refer to computersoftware that causes a computing device to perform a task. In someexamples, a software application may be referred to as an “application,”an “app,” or a “program.” Example applications include, but are notlimited to, system diagnostic applications, system managementapplications, system maintenance applications, word processingapplications, spreadsheet applications, messaging applications, mediastreaming applications, social networking applications, and gamingapplications.

The non-transitory memory may be physical devices used to store programs(e.g., sequences of instructions) or data (e.g., program stateinformation) on a temporary or permanent basis for use by a computingdevice. The non-transitory memory may be volatile and/or non-volatileaddressable semiconductor memory. Examples of non-volatile memoryinclude, but are not limited to, flash memory and read-only memory(ROM)/programmable read-only memory (PROM)/erasable programmableread-only memory (EPROM)/electronically erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EEPROM) (e.g., typically used for firmware, such as bootprograms). Examples of volatile memory include, but are not limited to,random access memory (RAM), dynamic random access memory (DRAM), staticrandom access memory (SRAM), phase change memory (PCM) as well as disksor tapes.

A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it willbe understood that various modifications may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, otherimplementations are within the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A tool assembly for a crafting apparatus, thetool assembly comprising: a housing defining a shaft channel; a shaftrotatably disposed within the shaft channel and including an exposedportion outside of the shaft channel, the exposed portion defining anengagement channel extending through an outer surface of the exposedportion; a spherical member disposed within the engagement channel; ahead configured to be engaged with the exposed portion of the shaft, thehead including a detent configured to selectively engage the sphericalmember.
 2. The tool assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plungerslidably disposed within a plunger channel defined by the shaft, theplunger being engaged with the spherical member and the plunger channelbeing connected to the engagement channel.
 3. The tool assembly of claim2, wherein the plunger includes a first portion having a first diameterand a second portion having a second diameter less than the firstdiameter, the first portion and the second portion being configured toselectively engage the spherical member.
 4. The tool assembly of claim3, wherein when the first portion of the plunger is engaged with thespherical member, a portion of the spherical member extends past theouter surface of the exposed portion of the shaft.
 5. The tool assemblyof claim 3, wherein when the second portion of the plunger is engagedwith the spherical member, the spherical member is disposed within theouter surface of the exposed portion of the shaft.
 6. The tool assemblyof claim 2, wherein the plunger is operable between a locked positionwhere a portion of the spherical member extends past the outer surfaceof the exposed portion of the shaft and an unlocked position where thespherical member is disposed within the outer surface of the exposedportion of the shaft.
 7. The tool assembly of claim 6, furthercomprising a spring exerting a biasing force upon the plunger to biasthe plunger to the locked position.
 8. The tool assembly of claim 7,wherein the plunger is moved from the locked position to the unlockedposition in response to a force sufficient to overcome the biasing forceof the spring.
 9. The tool assembly of claim 1, further comprising agear configured to drive rotation of the shaft relative to the housing.10. The tool assembly of claim 9, further comprising a damping memberdisposed around the shaft, the damping member configured to impederotation of the shaft.
 11. The tool assembly of claim 1, wherein thedetent includes two engagement surfaces extending from each other at anangle, and when the detent engages the spherical member, the sphericalmember simultaneously contacts the two engagement surfaces.
 12. The toolassembly of claim 11, wherein when the detent engages the sphericalmember, the spherical member contacts the head at only the twoengagement surfaces.
 13. The tool assembly of claim 12, wherein thespherical member exerts a force upon the two engagement surfaces in aradially outward direction, such that the spherical member is wedgedbetween the two engagement surfaces.
 14. A device for a craftingapparatus comprising: a main body extending from a first end to a secondend; means for engaging a drive mechanism at the first end of the mainbody; and means for manipulating a sheet-like medium at the second endof the main body.
 15. The device of claim 14, wherein the main bodyincludes an inner surface defining a recess, the inner surfaceconfigured to engage the drive mechanism.
 16. The device of claim 15,wherein the inner surface defines a detent configured to engage aprotruding portion of the drive mechanism.
 17. The device of claim 15,wherein the inner surface is configured to engage the drive mechanismvia a keyed connection.
 18. The device of claim 14, wherein the meansfor manipulating the medium are integrally formed with the main body.19. The device of claim 14, wherein the means for manipulating themedium are selectively engageable with the main body.
 20. The device ofclaim 19, wherein the means for manipulating the medium are selectivelyengageable with the main body via a mechanical fastener.
 21. A toolhousing for a crafting apparatus, the tool housing comprising: anexposed portion with a spherical member; and a head configured to beengaged with the exposed portion, the head including a detent configuredto selectively engage the spherical member.